Sunday, February 10, 2013

Moving is a bit like having another Christmas (but without everyone around me being excited or stressed out too). I should probably be avoiding the turps; something that turned out to make everything a bit easier to cope with when I had to do it in December, but when it's true summer and you're leaving, that's pretty much impossible. So here I am, over a week since my last post, struggling to remember all of the things I filed away in my messy little brain throughout the week, planning to blog about them later. I know they're in there somewhere, but it's a little bit like looking for my little bandeau top (which I finally found in my undie drawer); I don't want to make a big mess at night-time, especially when we are surrounded by the physical mess that is packing up an apartment which you have had three years to fill, and fill it you goddam have. It's my gift/curse. Today at the markets I bought six books (and then was gifted another four by the very kind previous owner who wanted all of his famous five books to go to someone who appreciated them (me), and a pair of shoes. I feel as if Vincent thinks I wasn't taking our conversation about the truck and whether or not we can actually fit everything we already have, that we had yesterday after we left a secondhand dream-shop we found in Pukekohe... where I bought more books, champagne saucers, mugs, plates, and a jumper. Gift/curse.

So instead, some things that are on the edge of my mind, that can be safely peeled off without having any dams break, or something like that.

1. Some links about women: excellent Lena Dunham, and the tragic and horrible story of Minami Minegishi. Actually, these links could cause one of the dams in my head to break; what the fuck. Both of these women's experiences made me fucking furious.

2. Dreams. Ones I've had when I've been sleeping, and ones I've had while awake. They're both confusing, but the awake ones are frightening because they mean I want things, but I have to do things I've never done before to attain them.

3. Whether or not it really is okay to judge people by what they put out. Where the line is between grouping and stereotyping. How much power people have over how they seem. Whether or not it's okay to write people off. How many times you have to do things you don't want to do in the name of Emily Post.

4. The Sopranos, which we are watching from start to finish, again. I find I am describing people on the news as Fucks rather than Fuckers. My dreams have guns in them.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

I have always chosen books by their covers. I do remember wincing at the copy of Julie & Julia my sister lent me, complete with recommendation from Marie fucking Claire, and then thoroughly enjoying it, and am aware that sometimes books - particularly those written by women - are given covers they don't deserve. But life is short.

Yesterday I did my last ever (I think) interview with a prospective employee, in my current job. I've never felt like I'm particularly good at these interviews; I put the interviewees at their ease as quickly as possible, but then I lose my way a bit, and really just try to get to know them. I realised yesterday that this style of interview, of which my boss is a strong and long-time advocate, is precisely why her employees are a rare bunch; we/they are chosen primarily on how much she and I like them. It's funny how strange that sounds, and yet it works perfectly. The exchange that happens in my work between us and our customers is usually very brief. We have a few minutes at the most, in which time they form an opinion of us that completely influences how they feel about the shop; our ability to give a good impression is as important as our knowledge about what we're selling. Fitting in with the rest of the team is the difference between a united workforce and good morale, and a series of factions and bad feeling.

First impressions are crucial in a full and busy world, and while they are not quite cover-judging, they're not far off. We give out signals all the time; some of which we are aware, some of which we are not. We choose what to wear, and how to fix our hair... and we try to choose what we say. People are pre-disposed to some reactions; why should we want to spend our time proving them wrong?

After the interview, I thought about how I filter people, and how I make judgements. Some of them were perhaps a bit iffy: I have few blonde friends. The first two who come to mind are naturally blonde (that is, they don't lighten their hair at all). To me, choosing to be blonde (or any other hair-colour, really) when one is not naturally so says something important about who that person is, and what they value. My sister would say this is ridiculous, but she is less cynical and more generous then I am. Although when she gave me Julie & Julia, she did mention the cover...

I know covers can be misleading, and that I might miss out on some good books and some good people. But then I look around at my friends, and my husband; all of the people I chose... and I think Nup. We're good.

About Me

I like words. I spend most of my time listening to music, reading, watching movies, or following Vincent around. One day we want to live in Cuba. In the meantime, I'm very happy hanging out in our little apartment and drinking with my sister at the pub on Fridays.